Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boden Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boden

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,448 in Boden, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,294 in Boden, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,141 in Boden, rent included.

Medellin is about 29% cheaper than Boden, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Boden is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$19.99 SEK 194

-69.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$41.86 SEK 405

-22.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$10.72 SEK 104

-31.53%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.06 SEK 19.93

-16.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.67 SEK 16.15

-37.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$2.16 SEK 20.91

-64.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$5.40 SEK 52.3

-68.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$7.26 SEK 70.3

-56.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.45 SEK 13.99

-27.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.78 SEK 26.92

-53.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.08 SEK 20.12

-32.69%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.60 SEK 25.19

-16.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$5.32 SEK 51.5

-17.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.35 SEK 61.5

-7.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$6.45 SEK 62.4

33.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.60 SEK 25.19

-12.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.67 SEK 25.82

-58.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.66 SEK 25.75

-42.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$4.52 SEK 43.80

-70.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.55 SEK 14.98

-27.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.04 SEK 10.06

8.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.28 SEK 12.40

-33.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$2.61 SEK 25.28

-65.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$10.65 SEK 103

-78.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$10.55 SEK 102

17.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$3.94 SEK 38.17

-69.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.57 SEK 24.84

-3.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$2.57 SEK 24.91

-67.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$75.3 SEK 729

-46.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$5.33 SEK 51.6

-73.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.64 SEK 15.91

17.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$61.8 SEK 598

-87.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$2.31 SEK 22.39

-57.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$26.2K SEK 254.0K

-31.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$26.4K SEK 255.9K

0.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$110 SEK 1,062

-26.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$53.3 SEK 516

-81.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$53.6 SEK 519

-54.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$60.9 SEK 590

-58.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$24.58 SEK 238

-22.09%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$13.12 SEK 127

-69.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 993.4K

$79.6 SEK 771

283.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$4,175 SEK 40.4K

45.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$134 SEK 1,297

-56.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$78.5 SEK 760

-58.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$97.4 SEK 943

3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$251 SEK 2,430

-57.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$938 SEK 9,083

-49.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$267 SEK 2,588

40.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$732 SEK 7,084

15.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$528 SEK 5,107

38.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$4,413 SEK 42.7K

-27.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$3,077 SEK 29.8K

-55.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$3,940 SEK 38.1K

-84.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Boden: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $938 in Boden. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 539% higher in Boden, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $42.00 in Boden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $279 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Boden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Boden is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,171 in Boden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,448 in Boden. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 86% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Boden at $1,448. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.